Salvini Cleared in Migrant ‘Kidnapping’ Case

Italy’s Supreme Court has delivered a final verdict upholding the acquittal of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in a high-profile migrant kidnapping case.

The ruling, handed down on Wednesday, brings a definitive end to the legal battle, meaning no further appeals can be lodged against the leader of the far-right League party.

The Legal Battle

The case stems from a 2019 incident when Salvini served as Italy’s Interior Minister. During that period, he implemented a strict “closed ports” policy aimed at curbing illegal immigration.

Prosecutors had charged him with kidnapping for refusing to allow a rescue ship operated by the Spanish charity Open Arms to dock.

The vessel, carrying over 100 migrants, was left stranded at sea for nearly three weeks before magistrates eventually ordered its seizure and the evacuation of those on board.

Last year, a court in Palermo, Sicily, acquitted Salvini, rejecting the prosecution’s request for a six-year prison sentence. In a rare procedural move, Palermo prosecutors bypassed the standard appeals court in July, taking their challenge directly to the Supreme Court.

They argued that while the facts of Salvini’s conduct were established, the high court needed to determine if those actions constituted a criminal offense.

Wednesday’s decision by the Supreme Court rejected this appeal, cementing the acquittal.

“Defending Borders is Not a Crime”

The verdict was immediately celebrated by Italy’s ruling coalition.

Upon learning of the decision, Salvini took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his vindication.

“Defending borders is not a crime,” wrote Salvini, who currently serves as the Minister of Transport.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a key ally and head of the right-wing coalition government, echoed his sentiments. Writing on Facebook, she framed the court’s decision as a victory for national sovereignty.

“Matteo Salvini’s final acquittal… is good news and confirms a simple and fundamental principle: a minister who defends Italy’s borders is not committing a crime, but doing his duty,” Meloni stated.

Giulia Bongiorno, Salvini’s lawyer and a senator for the League party, expressed deep satisfaction with the outcome.

“The ruling highlighted that the prosecutor’s appeal was unrealistic and, more importantly, it stressed the correctness of Salvini’s actions,” Bongiorno said. “All this confirms that this trial should never have started.”

Charity Decries “Impunity”

Conversely, the ruling drew sharp condemnation from humanitarian groups involved in Mediterranean rescues.

Oscar Camps, the founder of Open Arms, described the outcome as a “political decision” rather than a judicial one. “Justice has not been done today either, but impunity has been created,” Camps told local media, criticizing the precedent set by the court’s refusal to penalize the delay in allowing migrants ashore.

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